Six Ways to Respond to Your Child’s Tantrum
My daughter Carys was two when she discovered the devastating injustice of gravity. She’d been carefully stacking wooden blocks into a tower. It was higher than any structure she’d built before, but the whole thing suddenly tumbled down. Within seconds, she was on the floor unleashing a wail that seemed to shake the windows. My […]
The Psychology of Mental Health Memes
Memes are a form of digital storytelling, except instead of hunting scenes, it’s a sloth giving side-eye with the caption: “If I delete my Instagram, my social anxiety will delete itself too.” And it spreads, because it’s a blunt snippet that somehow captures our collective anxiety in one post. What Are Memes? Memes are Gen […]
12 Clear Signs You Are Ready to Date Again After a Breakup
Deciding when to re-enter the dating world is one of the most difficult questions people face after a breakup and even more so after divorce.Your emotional readiness determines relationship success in ways that simply wanting companionship cannot. Dr. John Gottman’s decades of research on relationships reveals that emotional availability serves as the foundation for healthy […]
The Deadly Truth About Broken Heart Syndrome in Men
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as broken heart syndrome, is a rare but serious form of heart disease that mimics a heart attack. Though more commonly diagnosed in postmenopausal women, new research reveals a surprising and concerning trend: Did you know men are more than twice as likely to die from the condition? A Groundbreaking Study […]
What to Look for in a Long Term Partner: 12 Must Have Qualities
When you’re ready to find someone to share your life with, the stakes feel incredibly high. After all, choosing a life partner is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make – one that will shape your daily happiness, emotional well-being, and future dreams for decades to come. The person you choose will be […]
The Whisper That Saved My Life When I Was Drowning
TRIGGER WARNING: This post references rape and suicide attempts, which might be distressing for some readers. “Our lives only improve when we are willing to take chances, and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves.” ~Walter Anderson This was my third psychiatric hospitalization after my suicide attempts. […]
The Six Points of Connection We All Need
It’s widely recognized that the crises of loneliness, disconnection, and social fragmentation are touching nearly every aspect of our lives, from personal well-being to public health to democracy itself. What’s far less clear is what to do about it. Research helps us understand the scope of the problem, but for the average person or community […]
Five Habits to Help Kids Be Resilient
What resources do you find helpful when you’re struggling? In the wake of the pandemic, a series of federal grants brought me into Milwaukee Public Schools to support children’s well-being and resilience. In one fourth-grade bilingual classroom, students were so engaged with our playful mindful Self-compassion practices that I returned the following year as a […]
How Alcohol Impacts Male Perception of Potential Partners
Many people have heard or experienced the effects of alcohol-fueled attraction. Discussed as a safety warning in social settings and a caveat for singles searching for a mate, for some people, alcohol alters perception and attraction to others. Research explains. Attraction Through Altered States For many reasons, cocktails should be consumed with caution. Alcohol comes […]
Do You Want to Worry Less and Live More?
Racing thoughts, tension in your muscles, fear in the pit of your stomach, and the alarming sense that disaster is imminent are the trademarks of our modern-day world-weariness. Whether it’s work, relationships, a volatile economy, wars overseas, political divisiveness, climate change, technology-induced anxiety—or a combination of all—these have added to the collective worry that causes […]